North Macedonia
North Macedonia (previously the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) performs in the mid-range across all four categories of democracy in the Global State of Democracy framework. Between 2019-2024, the country has made significant gains in Elected Government. It scores in the top 25 per cent in Social Group Equality. North Macedonia is an upper-middle-income country, and key economic sectors include textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The area of modern North Macedonia was first settled by Slavic tribes in the 6th century. After centuries of conflict between the Bulgarian, Byzantine, and Serbian Empires, it became part of the Ottoman Empire for over 500 years. Following the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), it came under Serbian control and during World War I and II, the territory switched between Bulgarian and Serbian rule, before becoming a constituent state of communist Yugoslavia in 1945. The country gained independence in 1991 when it declared secession from Yugoslavia. Ever since, electoral politics have been dominated by the center-left Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the nationalist, center-right VMRO-DPMNE.
Widespread corruption remains a major challenge in North Macedonia with ongoing investigations involving top politicians. Public frustration with government impunity came to a head as a deadly nightclub fire in March 2025 sparked nationwide protests concerning corruption and government accountability. Economy (particularly cost of living) and corruption drive citizens’ top day-to-day concerns. At the macro level, politics in North Macedonia has been structured by the intersection of questions over national identity and the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. A long-running name dispute with Greece stalled North Macedonia’s progress until a historic deal added ‘North’ to its name, but Bulgaria later blocked its EU bid, conditioning accession on a 2022 agreement requiring constitutional recognition of the Bulgarian minority. This condition was rejected by the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, which came to power in 2024 vowing not to accept it.
North Macedonia is home to a Macedonian majority alongside Albanians (about one-third of the population), Turks, Roma, Serbians, Bosniaks and Vlachs. There have been ongoing ethnic tensions between Macedonians and Albanians, including an armed conflict in 2001 that resulted in the Ohrid Agreement, which introduced reforms to enhance minority rights. In 2024, the country saw its first-ever ethnic Albanian (caretaker) Prime Minister, while the Constitutional Court abolished a mechanism enforcing ethnic quotas in public sector jobs. Despite progress over the years, nationalist sentiments could reignite tensions at home and abroad.
North Macedonia ranks in the mid-range for Gender Equality according to the GSoD Indices. Despite ratifying the Istanbul Convention in 2017 and amending the Criminal Code in 2023, gender-based violence is widespread. Although a gender quota has boosted women’s political participation, women remain underrepresented. Progress on two key laws—the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on Civil Registry, which included provisions for transgender Legal Gender Recognition—has stalled due to coordinated movements and protests by religious groups, fuelling anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination and hate speech.
In the coming years, close attention should be paid to the Rule of Law, particularly the Absence of Corruption, given the widespread corruption in the country. It will be important to watch Social Group Equality due to the major ethnic divides, and concerns about the rights of minorities and of the LGBTQIA+ community. With the cost of living being a top concern for citizens, it will be important to observe its impact on Economic Equality.
Last updated: September 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
May 2026
Protesters demand Albanian bar exam access; claim institutional discrimination persists
On 18 May, hundreds gathered in Skopje to demand that the bar exam be offered in Albanian, continuing protests that began in April with ethnic Albanian law students. They have since broadened in support. Protesters said protests would continue, framing the issue as one of institutional discrimination. Students argue that the Law on the Use of Languages entitles them to take the exam in Albanian, noting it assesses professional rather than linguistic knowledge and that their studies were conducted in Albanian. The Ministry of Justice disputes this, maintaining that the legal framework does not allow it and that current practice is compliant. The Language Inspectorate has issued a warning to the Ministry, and the Ombudsperson has proposed amendments, leaving the issue legally contested. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the government is working on a solution in line with Venice Commission recommendations. Media reported that some protesters faced arrests, along with obstacles and stops on their way to the protest.
Sources: Portalb (1), Portalb (2), Portalb (3), Portalb (4), Deutsche Welle
March 2025
Deadly Kočani nightclub fire sparks outrage over alleged systemic failures
A fire at a nightclub in Kočani on 16 March killed at least 59 people and injured over 150, mostly teenagers and young people, with the government declaring a rare seven-day period of national mourning. Over 100 of those injured required medical treatment abroad. The tragedy sparked public outrage and protests over alleged systemic failures linked to corruption, official negligence, and impunity, which compromised public safety. Authorities said that the nightclub lacked a proper operating license, did not meet security standards, and had only one accessible exit, which led to a stampede. Interior Minister Toshkovski stated that there were grounds to suspect a connection between corruption and the incident. At least 15 people were detained, including former Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, while the Mayor of Kočani resigned on moral grounds. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski pledged accountability, vowing a thorough investigation and a reopening of past cases, such as the 2021 fire at the Tetovo Covid-19 hospital.
Sources: Republika (1), Republika (2), Euronews, The Guardian, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), British Broadcasting Corporation
December 2024
Authorities issue arrest warrant for ex-Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi
On 15 December, the residence of ex-First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi (a top official in the ethnic Albanian opposition party Democratic Union for Integration) was raided amid an investigation into embezzlement and abuse of office. Grubi, suspected of misappropriating EUR 8 million from the State Lottery, was not found at home. A detention order was issued, followed by an international arrest warrant. Former Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski is also under investigation. Grubi claimed to be abroad on a private visit, and as of 22 January 2025, his whereabouts remain unknown. Given the challenges posed by high-level corruption and difficulties with prosecution and impartial justice in the country, it is crucial to monitor how this case develops. Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski fled to Hungary in 2018 to avoid a jail term for corruption.
Sources: North Macedonia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Media Information Agency (MIA), 360 Stepeni, Republika, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2)
October 2024
Constitutional Court abolishes ethnic balancing quota for public administration
On 9 October, the Constitutional Court abolished the “Ethnic Balancer,” a mechanism introduced in 2015 to enforce ethnic quotas in public sector jobs. The State Anti-Corruption Commission had challenged its constitutionality earlier in 2024, arguing it violates freedom of expression and may unfairly exclude applicants. Critics, including the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party, claim the mechanism has led to an over-staffed public sector with party loyalists and was misused due to the fluidity of ethnic identity. The mechanism greatly improved the inclusion of the Albanian minority, who make up about one-quarter of the population, but its removal has sparked concerns about potentially reversing progress in the already fragile inter-ethnic relations. It is important to watch how the removal of this mechanism will affect minority inclusion and whether it will be replaced with new legislation to address inclusion.
Sources: Media Information Agency, TV21, Radio Free Europe (North Macedonia) (1), Radio Free Europe (North Macedonia) (2), New York Times, North Macedonia's Constitutional Court
See all event reports for this country
Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2025
Basic Information
Human Rights Treaties
State party
Signatory
No action
Performance by category over the last 6 months
Election factsheets
Global State of Democracy Indices
Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years
Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time
